May I firstly say how much I appreciate the various attempts on the
part of the council to restrain the present owner of Eye Manor. I
have in mind particularly your attempt to prevent the tragic and
unnecessary renewal of the sills and the 15 foot new drive.

With reference to your letter of 31 October, I’d like to
reassure you that from ‘my side of the fence’ we are in
no way desirous of breaking or flaunting the law of the land.

Please send me a copy of the relevant section of the Act you mention,
plus what would be the mechanism for appealing.

Over the years my family have not only been landowners but have
contributed many thousands of pounds to the council in taxes, made
many bequests to museums and fought hard for amenities in this
county.

Besides the duty you mention, the council also has a duty not to
meddle or cause unnecessary anxiety in the affairs of the citizens of
Herefordshire.

The recent Yoke Farm case clarified how, accidentally I am sure, for
years our councils had in fact been flaunting the law of the land,
the guidelines of the Department of the Environment and even their
own professed policies. The Department of the Environment inspector
decided emphatically against the council in the Yoke Farm case; and
you will also know judgement has been entered against this county and
its policies concerning the caravan dwelling population of this
county described as ‘disgraceful’ in the High Court, by
the judge himself.

After the Yoke Farm case there was a proposal to bring councillors to
court for their reckless waste of council officers’ time and an
estimated £30,000 of taxpayers’ money in bringing a case
that was in legal terms indefensible.

I have to say that, speaking both as a landowner and as a taxpayer, I
feel the bringing of the case you mention in your letter by the
council would bring it into further disrepute for waste of officers’
time and taxpayers’ money, and into conflict with the
Herefordshire Traveller Support Group and the Farmers’ Union,
with national Gypsy and Traveller bodies, English Heritage, and
possibly the Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg.

I have to say, however, that I have not personally read the section
of the Act you mention, so I look forward to receiving a copy so that
I can get a more complete picture.

This is intended to be a friendly letter because I basically support
my council, not only financially but in other ways. It seems
important to me to point out errors, if they are in danger of being
committed.